Device for withdrawing samples from wells



w. c. KEITH.

DEVICE FOR WITHDRAWING SAMPLES FROM WELLS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 6.1921.

mwmw I Pmmd M 19229 till WILLIAM CARROLL KEITH, 01E VOTE, TAS.

DEVICE FOR WITHDRAW'ING SAMPLES FROM WELLS.

Application filed July 6, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, WILLIAM CARROLL KEITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Voth, in the county of Jefi'erson and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Tlithdrawing Samples from Wells, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for withdrawing samples from wells, and the purpose of my invention is the provision of a device of this character by means of which samples of the earth formations below the drill bit of a drilling apparatus can be obtained without the necessity of removing the bit or drill pipe from the Well. i

Tt is also a purpose of my invention to provide a device of the character specified which is adapted to be forced down into the earth by a pounding action which is selfcontained, thus enabling the use thereof with facility and dispatch and without the necessity of employing specially constructed tools or bits.

T will describe one form of drilling apparatus and one form of device embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

ln the accompanyin drawings:

Figure 1 is a view s owing a well with a drilling apparatus of conventional form in vertical section and having applied thereto one form of device embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawin s, inwhich similar reference characters refer to similar parts, T have shown in Figure 1 a portion of a'conventional form of drilling apparatus which comprises a drill ipe F having a threadedly mounted collar 8 at its lower end, and in which latter is threaded a fish-tailed bit B. The bit B is formed with two or more openings 15 extending longitudinally thereof and effecting communication betlpeen the pipe P and the lower end of the we The sampling device emboding my invention comprises in the present instance a tube or barrel T which is of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the opening 15. The lower end of the tube T is provided'with a sharp. cutting edge as indicated at 16 in Figure 2, for a purpose which willbe hereinafter described. The upper end of the tube is formed with a valve seat 17 ,upon

Serial ltl'O. 1:22,?73.

which a ball valve 18 is adapted to normally repose to provide a check valve. The upper end of the tube is threaded exteriorly to receive a coupling sleeve S, and this sleeve is provided with a stop pin 19 for limiting the upward movement of the ball valve 18. The sleeve S serves to couple the tube T with a barrel G, and mounted for movement within the barrel G is a pounding element designated generally at E. The pounding element in the present instance comprises a rod 20 mounted for sliding movement within the barrel by means of a bushing 21 threadedly fitted in the upper end of the barrel and formed with an opening to receive the rod. The lower end of the rod-is provided with a nut 21 designed for the urpose of limiting the upward movement of the pounding element and thus preventing the withdrawal of the same from the barrel. The upper end of the rod 20 normally projects from the barrel, and this projecting end is provided with a weight 22 which is preferably of a diameter corresponding to that of the barrel. As shown in Figure 1, the weight 22 carries a connecting link 23 for connecting the device as a whole to a rope 24L whereby actuation of the pounding element from the top of the well can be effected.

Tn operation, the device is applied to the drilling apparatus in the manner shown in Figure 1 wherein it will be seen that the device is lowered into the drill pipe P until the tube T is extended through one of the openings 15, with its cutting edge imbedded in the earth at a point adjacent to the drill bit B. lit is to be particularly noted that the upper ends of the openings 15 are of conical form so as to effect a guiding of the lower end of the tube into the openings. Tn obtaining a sample of the formation, the pounding element E is alternately lifted and dropped by means of the rope 24 thereby causing the weight 22 to strike the upper end of the barrel Gr and thus force the tube T into the earth. This pounding action is continued until the tube T is driven well into the earth, the earth formatien entering the tube as it descends, with the water escaping from the tube through the check valve 18. The barrel G is preferably perforated as shown for the purpose of allowing the water to enter or discharge freely thus rendering the pounding action more effective. When the tube has been driven down a suflicient depth, the whole device is Elll withdrawn from the drill pipe and the sample removed from the tube for inspection. As the tube is withdrawn, the check valve naturally closes, thus forming a vacuum which prevents the earth from escaping from the tube.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of sampling device embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: v

1. An earth sampling device for wells comprising an earth receiving tube having its forward end sharpened and its rear end formed with a valve seat, a ball valve mount- ,ed on said seat, a coupling threaded on the rear portion of said tube and having a transverse stop pin limiting the upward movement of said ball valve, a barrel connected to said coupling and having liquid discharge apertures, a pounding rod slidable into said barrel and having an exteriorly located weighted head adapted to engage said barrel whereby to advance said barrel and said earth receiving tube, and an operating member connected to said head.

2. An earth sampling device for wells comprising an earth receiving tube having its forward end sharpened and its rear end formed with a valve seat, a ball valve mounted on said seat, a coupling threaded on the rear portion of said tube and having a transverse stop pin limiting the upward movement of said ball valve, a barrel connected to said coupling and having liquid dischar e apertures, a pounding rod slidable into said barrel and having an exteriorly located v weighted head adapted to engage said barrel whereby to advance said barrel and said earth receiving tube, an operating member connected to said head, and a pipe receiving said barrel and said stem and having its forward portion provided with a closure having a gradually restricted entrance opening through which said earth receiving tube passes.

WILLIAM CAR-ROLL KEITH. 

